East Timor leader to head overseas despite unrest

East Timor's President Taur Matan Ruak is going ahead with plans to travel to Mozambique this week, despite recent unrest at home.

One person has died in what the United Nations describes as scattered incidents of unrest which have mostly involved rock throwing in parts of East Timor.

They began on Sunday night hours after the Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's CNRT party announced its partners for a new coalition government.

East Timor's President Taur Matan Ruak met the leaders of the main political parties on Monday.

His Chief of Staff Fidelis Marghelhaes says the president will leave East Timor on Tuesday to attend a conference in Mozambique.

He says the decision to go ahead with the trip shows the president has full confidence in the security sector and the political leaders.

Mr Magalhaes says the political leaders are appealing to their party's supporters to act peacefully.

Violent protests

East Timor police say at least one person was killed in violence that erupted after the ruling party announced it will form a coalition government without the opposition Fretilin party.

Police confirmed they fired warning shots and used tear gas to disperse crowds that gathered Sunday evening in the capital Dili, only minutes after a live broadcast of a National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party conference.

"We have received information that one (person) has been killed in Hera," a village just outside Dili, National Police commander Longinhos Monteiro told AFP.

He said about 64 vehicles, including five owned by police, were damaged around Dili.

"A couple of people have been injured and seven houses have been burned."

The Australian Government has not changed the overall level of the advice for citizens visiting the country but has warned people to exercise a high degree of caution because of the uncertain security situation.

'Unrest was contained'

Prime minister Xanana Gusmao's CNRT party announced on Sunday it was inviting the Democratic Party, which is part of the current government, and the smaller Frente-Mudanca into a coalition.

The United Nations sees the polls and their aftermath as the last big test that will decide whether its remaining 1,300 peacekeepers and other security staff can withdraw.

If a government is formed without any major violence the United Nations peacekeeping force plans to withdraw before the end of the year.

"We're not treating it (the violence) as a major security incident," said Sandra McGuire, a spokeswoman for the UN's Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT).

"The unrest was contained by the National Police itself so that's an indication of their ability to cope," she said.